Paula Unruh Collection

Collection

Identifier: CAC-PP-075

Staff Only

This collection focuses on Unruh's work as a leading strategist in the Republican Party at the state and national level. Materials on the Oklahoma Republican Party as well as the Southern Association of Republican State Chairmen include correspondence, meeting minutes, schedules, clippings, and financial data. Also evident in the collection is material on various Oklahoma Republican races, including the congressional campaigns of Representative Page H. Belcher in the 1960s and 1970s, the succcessful 1974 Senate campaign of Henry Bellmon, and the gubernatorial campaign of Vince Orza in the 1990s. There is also some information on the campaigns of Arkansans Sheffield Nelson and Frank White. The collection also has schedules, correspondence, speeches, press releases, and clippings on the Republican presidential campaigns of Richard Nixon in 1972, John Connally in 1980, and Bob Dole in 1988. Also found in the collection is material related to Unruh's work as executive vice president of the Tulsa Global Trade Foundation as well as her service in the Departments of Energy and Commerce. The collection has various memorabilia, including a campaign dress worn by Belcher's Pages as well as one worn by women supporting Bellmon. There is also a DVD featuring many of the dresses and gowns worn by Unruh during her career.

Dates

1964-2009

Creator

Unruh, Paula, Oklahoma State GOP chairperson (1975-1977), 1929-2021 (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Use:

The University of Oklahoma asserts no claim of copyright over photographs in this collection taken by private citizens. Any publication of such photographs requires the consent of the copyright holder.

Extent

16 Linear Feet (11 containers)

Additional Description

Biographical Information:

Paula Unruh, a longtime Republican Party activist, promoted GOP candidates for over fifty years. Especially active in the Tulsa area, she also served as the campaign coordinator for Arkansas Governor Frank White in the 1980s. A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Unruh attended the University of Arkansas and the University of Tulsa. Her work in politics included serving as a staff member for Representative Page H. Belcher, the veteran Oklahoma congressman from the First District, in the 1950s. She also worked for the Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce in the 1980s. In 1978 and 1994, she made two unsuccessful campaigns for Oklahoma's First District congressional seat. In addition, Unruh served as Oklahoma's state GOP chairperson from 1975-1977, during which time she also chaired the Southern Association of Republican State Chairmen.

Arrangement of Materials:

This collection is arranged into three series: Manuscripts, Ovesized Materials, and Photographs. The Manuscripts Series is arranged alphabetically then chronologically.The Oversize Series is arranged into four groups based on material type: paper materials, textile materials, ephemera/memorabilia, audiovisual materials.The Photographs Series appears to be arranged chronologically by date with many of the photographs grouped based on event or content.